TRANS-FATTY ACID PATTERNS IN PATIENTS WITH ANGIOGRAPHICALLY DOCUMENTED CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

The plasma trans-fatty acids of 47 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease were compared with those of 56 reference subjects using high-resolution capillary column gas-liquid chromatography to test the hypothesis that trans-fatty acid intake is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Individual and total trans-fatty acids were higher in patients than in reference subjects (1.38 vs 1.11% for total trans-fatty acids, p < 0.003; 0.40 vs 0.31% for palmitoleic acid trans, p < 0.001; and 0.28 vs 0.22% for linoleic acid trans, p < 0.007). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol were negatively correlated (r = -0.29, p < 0.004; and r = -0.35, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were positively correlated (r = 0.47, p < 0.001; r = 0.22, p < 0.03; r = 0.20, p <0.05, respectively) with palmitoleic acid trans. The correlations were similar and significant for linoleic acid trans, but less strong for total transfatty acids (which is more difficult to measure and has greater variability). Saturated and transfatty acids and total cholesterol are positively associated, whereas HDL/total cholesterol and polyunsaturated fatty acids are negatively associated with coronary artery disease. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that dietary trans-fatty acids are a cardiovascular risk factor.